Members, do you have an upcoming screening, event, campaign or other news to share? Tell us! Contact communications@nywift.org.

Writer/Director and NYWIFT member Bethany Jacobson is set to shoot her short film Hotel Bleu in mid-August. Produced by member Melisse Seleck and to be lensed by member Valentina Caniglia. They are shooting at the Paper Factory Hotel in Long Island City and Sid Gold’s in Manhattan. Hotel Bleu is about refusing to let aging define who we are or limit our creativity. Jackie Sands, a washed-up comedian, sexy and smart in the transition of Joan Rivers and Sandra Bernhard, believes kvetching is her birthright and verbal jousting, the audience's rite of passage. Entangled with a married accountant, She finds refuge at Hotel Bleu, where she meets a charismatic bandleader half her age. You can donate through their Seed & Spark campaign through July 28. Check out the promo with Julie Halston and Wayne Tucker shot at Birdland on the Hotel BleuFacebook page and Twitter feed. They are also crewing up, looking for: AD/Production Coordinator, Art Director, Sound Person, PA (driving license necessary) and Catering/Craft Services Person. Send queries to: bethanyjacobsonfilm@gmail.com

Member Caris Vujcec is the creator, executive producer and star of The Pepper Project, a new female character-driven series. The pilot episode premiered to a standing room-only crowd at the Producer's Club in New York City in March and premiered in the San Francisco Bay Area on June 7 at the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation in Lafayette, CA. It also won the Award of Excellence, Special Mention at the Best Shorts Competition. A story that unwinds the past via important memories – or lack thereof – The Pepper Project features lead character, ex-CIA super-sniper Pepper, as a smart yet fallible, classy, sexy and sensitive badass with a conscience, challenged with solving a series of increasingly dangerous puzzles in order to find her missing sister. Vujcec, who leads the cast as Pepper, raised over $23,000 via Indiegogo, along with private contributions to complete the shooting and post production of the pilot episode. The pilot is being submitted to web and film festivals nationwide, with an expectation of gaining a development deal to produce the series. Follow it on Vimeo, IndieGogo and Twitter.

Member Shira Levin’s third short film, Upside Down, the last of a trilogy, has been selected for several film festivals including in Mumbai, India; Scotland; Massachusetts; Brooklyn (Northside Film Festival); and The American Psychological Association Film Festival. It also won the Audience Choice Award at the Springfield LGBT Film Festival. It’s the story of a 10-year-old girl who befriends a transgender woman in her building, against her mother's wishes.

Member Lee Eypper's short play Angel Cake will premiere in Playsmith's Flash Fest 2015 on June 14 at 7 PM, at Manhattan Theatre Club Studios (311 West 43rd St., 8th Floor). Tickets are $15.00 and can be purchased online via Brown Paper Tickets.

Member Desiree Elle’s short film Shaded Reflections has been accepted to the Manhattan Film Festival, where it will screen June 20 at 7 PM in the Dramatic Shorts Program. Tickets may be